Alpha-1-naphthyl cinnamic nitrile as a pest-control agent



Patented Jan. 5, 1943' OFFICE a-l-NAPHTHYL CINNAMIC NITRILE AS A PEST-CONTROL AGENT William Moore, Stamford, Conr'n, assignor to American Cyanamid Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Application March 25, 1941, Serial No. 385,139

. 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a pest-control agent and more particularly to a compound which The following example illustrates a specific method of preparing the above compound in accordance with the invention. Materials employed are in parts by weight.

Ewample To a mixtu e consisting of 10 parts of 1- naphthyl acetonitrile and 6.4 parts of benzaldehyde there were added 2 parts of a 5% solution of sodium hydroxide in ethyl alcohol. After standing at room temperature (20 C.) for 24 hours, the reaction product was dissolvedin ether,

washed neutral (0.05% H2SO4) dr ied over sodium sulfate and distilled at reduced pressure.- The a-l-naphthyl cinnamic nitrile was recovered as a viscous yellow oil boiling at 240 C. at less than 1 mm. pressure.

the conventional manners.

Spray solution were prepared by dissolving the a-l-naphthyl cinnamic nitrile in a solvent medium consisting of 65% acetone and 35% water. A 98.7% control was obtained when a spray of 1-500 dilution was used against the citrus red spider, Tetra'nychus citri. At the same dilution the insecticide gave a 77% control on the bean aphid, Aphis rumicis.

Although the compound of this invention is especially eifective as a contact poison for the control of insect pests, it may also be used for fungicidal and bactericidal purposes. a

This new insecticide may be applied in any of Thus, for example, it may be used in an aqueous emulsion or incorporated in organic liquids such as the aliphatic stricted solely by the scope of the appended claim. I

I claim: An insecticide containing as an active ingredient a-l-naphthyl cirmamic nitrile.

WILLIAM MOORE. 

